Mount Asama (Japan) erupts

AP – Smoke billows from a crater of Mt.Asama, central Japan early Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. The mountain spewed




Alert issued in Gunma, Nagano after Mt Asama erupts
Monday 02nd February, 07:15 AM JST

TOKYO —

Mt Asama, straddling Gunma and Nagano prefectures, erupted early Monday from its summit crater, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The agency warned of the possibility of large ash deposits that could be scattered in areas within a radius of about 4 kilometers from the crater due to the 1:51 a.m. eruption.

After the eruption of the 2,568-meter volcano, smoke billowed from the crater reaching heights of about 2,000 meters shortly after 2 a.m., the agency said. The smoke was moving southeastward, it said. The agency had raised the volcanic eruption alert level for Mt Asama from 2 to 3 on the 5-stage warning scale Sunday. Level 3 prohibits people from going on Mt. Asama. Level 2 restricts them from approaching the crater area.


(http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/mount-asama-volcano-eruption-warning-issued)

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Volcano erupts near Tokyo raining ash down on city

TOKYO – A volcano erupted near Tokyo early Monday, spewing a plume of smoke more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) high and raining ash down on parts of the city. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Mount Asama, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Tokyo, erupted at 1:51 am (0451 GMT) Monday, according to Japan's Meteorological Agency. Chunks of rock from the explosion were found about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) away from the volcano.

The agency said volcanic ash fell on nearby areas as well as parts of Tokyo. TV reports showed neighborhoods sprinkled with white flakes.

An alert level of three, which urges nearby residents to take caution, was kept in place for a 2.5 mile (4 kilometer) radius. Alert level four advises residents to prepare for evacuation, while level five, the highest, orders evacuation, according to the agency.

The last major eruption of Mount Asamo took place in September 2004, the agency said.

With 108 active volcanos, Japan is among the most seismically busy countries in the world. The country lies in the "Ring of Fire" — a series of volcanoes and fault lines that outline the Pacific Ocean.


(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090202/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_volcano)